The Dispatch wins 11 awards in NCPA contest

Published: Friday, March 22, 2013 at 12:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, March 21, 2013 at 7:28 p.m.

The Dispatch won 11 awards Thursday night in the annual North Carolina Press Association awards contest.

The Dispatch competes in Division D against daily newspapers with circulation under 12,500.

Reporter Nash Dunn won third place in the Public Service Award for papers with a circulation of 25,000 or less and also third place in Division D for investigative reporting for his stories on Zeek Rewards. Dunn joined the staff in June 2012 and graduated from Appalachian State University in 2011.

Roberts won first place in sports photography for "Post 8 frustrated again" and shared first place in multimedia project with former staff member Seth Stratton for "Friends, family bond over love of old cars." He also won second place in general news photography for "Residents reflect on storm damage" and third place for sports feature photo for "Dragons win CCC tourney."

Roberts, a 1983 graduate of Randolph Community College in Asheboro, joined the staff in 1990.

Duprez won first place in sports news reporting for "Central forfeits four football games" and first place in sports columns for "Baseball playoffs have quirks"; "Local hero Josh Bush looks ready for the NFL"; and "Eagles take flight with the pass." Duprez came to The Dispatch in December 2006. He is a 1981 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Sports reporter Jason Queen won second place in sports columns for "Honors need to mean more"; "Chris Paul thrown into me-first generation"; and "Pace endures father's struggles." Queen, who grew up in Reeds, graduated from West Davidson High in 1992 and from Western Carolina University in 1997. He rejoined the newspaper in October 2011 after previously working from October 2005 to June 2009.

The Dispatch won first place in sports coverage. The paper won second place in special sections for its annual Women's Section.

The awards were presented during a ceremony at the The George Watts Hill Alumni Center on the campus of UNC-Chapel Hill.

<p>The Dispatch won 11 awards Thursday night in the annual North Carolina Press Association awards contest.</p><p>The Dispatch competes in Division D against daily newspapers with circulation under 12,500.</p><p>Reporter Nash Dunn won third place in the Public Service Award for papers with a circulation of 25,000 or less and also third place in Division D for investigative reporting for his stories on Zeek Rewards. Dunn joined the staff in June 2012 and graduated from Appalachian State University in 2011.</p><p>Chief photographer Donnie Roberts and sports editor Mike Duprez each won two first-place awards. </p><p>Roberts won first place in sports photography for "Post 8 frustrated again" and shared first place in multimedia project with former staff member Seth Stratton for "Friends, family bond over love of old cars." He also won second place in general news photography for "Residents reflect on storm damage" and third place for sports feature photo for "Dragons win CCC tourney."</p><p>Roberts, a 1983 graduate of Randolph Community College in Asheboro, joined the staff in 1990.</p><p>Duprez won first place in sports news reporting for "Central forfeits four football games" and first place in sports columns for "Baseball playoffs have quirks"; "Local hero Josh Bush looks ready for the NFL"; and "Eagles take flight with the pass." Duprez came to The Dispatch in December 2006. He is a 1981 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.</p><p>Sports reporter Jason Queen won second place in sports columns for "Honors need to mean more"; "Chris Paul thrown into me-first generation"; and "Pace endures father's struggles." Queen, who grew up in Reeds, graduated from West Davidson High in 1992 and from Western Carolina University in 1997. He rejoined the newspaper in October 2011 after previously working from October 2005 to June 2009.</p><p>The Dispatch won first place in sports coverage. The paper won second place in special sections for its annual Women's Section.</p><p>The awards were presented during a ceremony at the The George Watts Hill Alumni Center on the campus of UNC-Chapel Hill.</p>